Toll-free: (800) 557-5686North Carolina solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels
North Carolina State 41 solar panels available
- $0.56/W Average gross price of a solar power system as of October 2022
- 2 years Average system payback period
- 56 613 / year Average savings from going solar in North Carolina
- 3 ¢ / kWh Levelized cost of solar energy
- 6.53 kW Recommended system size
Benefit from a PV system
in North Carolina
-
![]()
5.13 hours of peak sunlight
North Carolina offers a good amount of sunlight – enough to substantially reduce your utility bills
-
![]()
Net Metering
You can send the excess electricity your system generates back to the grid, and the utility will pay for it
-
![]()
2 years payback period
A solar power system in North Carolina pays for itself a couple of times during its lifespan
-
![]()
Reduce the cost of your system by 26%
Get a quarter of the PV system cost off your taxes with the Federal Solar Tax Credit
-
![]()
Property tax exemption
Solar panels will increase the price of your home. Pay zero taxes on this added value
North Carolina #19 in the US
Solar Ranking
- $56 613/year Average savings from going solar in North Carolina
- 12 948 kWh/year Average electricity consumption of a FL household
- 7 559 kWh/year AC energy output of a 5 kW solar system installed in North Carolina
- 11 ¢ /kWh The cost of electricity today in North Carolina
- 23 ¢ /kWh The forecast average utility price over the next 25 years
- $0.56/WAverage gross price of a solar power system as of May 2021
What our happy customers say
Hi all, i wanted to share my experience of buying from a1solar. I needed panels for my yacht. I wanted to have only 3, but they have a minimum order size for delivery so I opted for pickup. It was good. It went smoothly. I appreciate the split payment that they offer. I basically went to the center, grabbed the panels, loaded ‘em in the truck and drove them home (gotta do it carefully though!). Nice guys too. peace, Carl
Caarl Arlac
Via Trustpilot
Oct 2, 2022
I did business with A1 about half a year ago (it’s september 22 atm) when I needed panels for my home in Phoenix. I took Panasonic, if anyone’s wondering. The system’s doing great, and I think I got really lucky with my installer and the shop as well. If I recall correctly, my order was indeed processed in 24h as promised, delivery took a bit longer than expected but it wasn’t a big deal, these were busy days for fedex. panels were in good shape. I myself checked them thoroughly.
Ryden R
Via Trustpilot
Sep 25, 2022
I like this company. Good service 👍
Daiga Ellaby
Via Google
Sep 19, 2022
i read too much about the broken panels and decided to go with the pickup option. Loved the experience overall. One of their centers was nearby, so I ordered some q cells for myself and drove there. They explained in detail how to drive the package home safely so I was really careful and yeah, now they are in my garage, waiting to be installed. Can’t really complain about anything, panels are fine, the service was cool, and the delivery was on me lol
loken
Via Trustpilot
Sep 19, 2022
So I did order a system, and everything arrived on time, and yes, one panel was broken. But you know what? I’m still going to give them 5 stars. Because 1) they warned me about the possibility of this happening and told me what to do in this case; 2) when I contacted them about it, they handled the situation professionally. I sent them all that they asked for and got a replacement relatively quickly. If it’s anyone’s fault that panels break, then it is the carrier's one. My impression: good service, great prices, commendable customer support.
Will Ghost
Via Trustpilot
Sep 14, 2022
I needed just a couple of panels for the boat, but the staff treated me like I was buying the whole warehouse. I decided to pick the order up myself, their center was within reach. Getting my panels and a Magnum inverter was easier than going for groceries. There is a lot of hard work behind this simplicity. This I know from experience
Filip Scot
Via Trustpilot
Sep 11, 2022
Review us on Google or Trustpilot
Solar laws, incentives and rebates in North Carolina you need to know
Return 26% of your PV system cost with Federal Solar Tax Credit
The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allows homeowners to claim 26% of the cost of their solar power system installed until 2022 as an income tax deduction. For example, if your solar system costs $20,000, you are eligible for $5,200 (26% of the total gross cost) in tax credit. Solar system cost comprises not only the money spent on solar panels, but also freight shipping costs, professional installer fees, tools bought or rented and so on. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes.
Sell excess electricity with Net Metering Program
Solar laws in North Carolina oblige electric utilities to offer Net Metering. It allows residential solar owners to put the excess electricity into the utility grid instead of storing it with batteries. When you sell your solar power to the grid, you receive credits that can be used to offset your next bills. Their value is determined according to avoided cost rates set forth by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Once a year all unused credits expire.
Save additional $300 to $1,000 a year trading RECs
Renewable Energy Credits are certificates granted to any person or entity upon generation of each MWh of clean electricity. Unlike with Net Metering, you don’t need to sell any electricity to get credits. There is one platform in North Carolina that allows you to store and sell them: NC-RETS. The value of RECs is always changing, which makes them similar to stock market assets. Based on the available data, selling PECs could mean anywhere from $300 to $1,000 annually for a 10 kW solar system. To participate, follow this detailed instruction. Keep in mind that the utilities will own your RECs unless you use a time-of-use demand (TOUD) tariff.
Freeze your property tax with Renewable Energy Source Exemption
A solar PV system installed in a home increases its value by about 4%, says a 2019 Zillow report. You could end up paying higher property taxes in other states, but not in North Carolina. According to the state laws, 100% of the value added as a result of a solar PV system installation should be exempt from property tax as non-business personal property.
Install your solar panels in North Carolina with no worries
It is legal to install solar panels on your house in North Carolina. The state makes unlawful any prohibitions of this kind, including those implemented by homeowners associations (HOAs). However, some restrictions are allowed by the legislation. These include size or aesthetic requirements, but only if they do not prevent homeowners from effectively using a PV system. Prohibiting solar arrays visible from the ground is also possible in North Carolina.
Solar panels help North Carolina survive hurricanes
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, North Carolina is one of the five states where hurricanes hit most often. Overpowering winds damage the infrastructure and wreak havoc, living people without electricity for days and even weeks. PV modules have the strength to withstand most hurricanes, and they will be of great value in case of a blackout. In 2020, hurricane Zeta caused almost half a million blackouts across North Carolina. This is a big number, considering that Zeta is far from being one of the worst disasters in the state’s history. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, extreme weather events will hit more and more often and gain in intensity. This is a good reason to consider going solar.